Offering Sanctuary in a Hostile Land
Thank you.
While great strides have been made in protecting the rights of LGBT people in many American cities, LGBT people growing up in small towns across America have not fared as well. Many are forced to hide who they are because they fear rejection, ridicule and violence, and those who come out about their sexual identity are often bullied and harassed. The physical and emotional abuse leaves lasting scars. Far too often, precious young lives are lost when bullying and isolation lead to substance abuse and suicide.
UCC / Casper is a faith community in Casper, Wyoming, the town in which Matthew Shepard was born and grew up. We are committed to peace and social justice action. We help to shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, welcome the stranger. We are an open and affirming church; our doors are open to everyone in Casper and surrounding communities. There is no religious litmus test. Our congregation includes people from various faith backgrounds and others who have no settled belief in any religion or spiritual tradition. No one is turned away because of their sexual identity. All are welcome, and our church is firmly committed to being a place of refuge and support for all.
We are the first open and affirming church in the state of Wyoming. Our church provides facilities for the local chapters of the Gay / Straight Alliance (GSA) and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). And we are active in the community.
We are reaching out for help. We are determined to continue providing a safe haven for LGBT people living in Casper and throughout the state of Wyoming. Right now, we are very much in need, financially. Our parsonage, which is used as low-income housing for out-of-state and foreign Casper College students who can’t afford another place to live, will soon have to be sold if we can’t raise some funds. The very church itself is at risk and we need your help. We want to keep our doors open to all the vital and wonderful youth who use our facilities, and be able to continue our important work for the oppressed.
When we established our open and affirming policy, some members of the congregation went elsewhere. Our openly lesbian minister, The Rev. Dee Lundberg, has been maligned in letters to the hometown newspaper by homophobes.
Fred Phelps and his merry crew of virulent haters picketed our church and harassed its members. But we’re determined to continue our work and to defend the rights of LGBT people, especially vulnerable youth, against discrimination, bullying and other forms of abuse.
Please help us keep our doors open for the LGBT youth of Wyoming. We are the first open and affirming church in the state and offer a warm and nurturing community for LGBT youth in this small, highly conservative rural community.
If you or a loved one grew up gay in a small rural town, you know how painful the isolation and loneliness can be. Your donation can help us maintain this life-saving sanctuary for LGBT youth today.
http://safehavenintheheartland.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ky9E1w-nlGE
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/United-Church-of-Christ-Casper-Wy/243698415261
__________
Image Flickr LocoMonkeyBob